HERE is a link to a new article showing that the parting of the Red Sea can be explained naturally.  What is funny is that they think that means God didn't do it.  All coincidence no doubt.  :)  God made nature, I think He knows how to use it to accomplish his goals.  Next they will figure out how manna fell and then they will explain that that means that God didn't do it.  :)

Been a busy week with still playing catch-up and planning to be away to attend a pastors conference (and get a few days visiting Sarah's family in the process).  This hit my thoughts today.

Mankind is made in the image of God.  Gen 1:27  "God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. "   This means that man is worthy of some basic respect.  We see this idea in James "But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; "(James 3:8-9 NASB)    Men should not be cursed, because they are made in the image of God (again, meaning male & female).  Our society has never done great with this and is doing poorer and poorer.  Two words; Reality TV.   People are degraded, disgraced, and held up to ridicule for our entertainment.  Now the fact is that they are usually doing this to themselves, but it makes no difference.

Pornography and soft core fare that is shown even on broadcast tv is not better.  Almost any magazine cover that is aimed at health, beauty, or lifestyle shows off people to sell stuff. These people are reduced to objects for our visual stimulation.   Just watching the news headlines today I saw an article about how a female broadcaster felt treated in a locker room, how a new reality show may focus on plastic surgery for brides, how a magazine cover may or not have been retouched... the list goes on and one.

And how about in church.  Do we treat each other with basic respect and dignity?  I know that some people do not earn much respect or admiration, but even they are created in the image of God and how we treat them says more about us than about them.  Jesus treated even the lowly, the unclean, and the sinful with a gentleness and care that reflected the fact that these people were made in His image.

Let's try to do our part to return some dignity to people, whether it is how we treat our neighbors, our enemies, our families, or strangers.  Let's shun media that seeks to entertain us by mocking others and holding them up to ridicule, even with their consent.  Let's not treat anyone like objects for our satisfaction but instead, in love, serve one another. Gal. 5:13

The Good News, the Gospel, is the point.

Why are we here on earth?  To share the gospel.  "Go into all the world and preach the gospel." (Mark 16:15)
Why do we live "Christian" lives of integrity and purity? To show/share the gospel. 1 Thes. 1:5; 2:8-9
Why do we suffer and go through hard times? For the gospel. 2 Tim. 1:8
To what purpose do we get involved in politics?  To show/share the gospel. Acts 25:21

The Gospel is the point, always.  In living our lives personally, or as a church, do we keep this goal in mind?  It is all about the gospel.  Do we often get caught up in debates and arguments about other "hot button" issues whether they be theological, political, or personal, and allow these things to distract us from the point, the Gospel?

"Remind your people of this, and give them a solemn warning in God's presence not to fight over words. It does no good, but only ruins the people who listen."  (2 Timothy 2:14 GNB )

"But avoid stupid arguments, long lists of ancestors, quarrels, and fights about the Law. They are useless and worthless."  (Titus 3:9 GNB )

"O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge"-- which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you."  (1 Timothy 6:20-21 NASB )

Everyone is all up in arms about the pastor down in Florida that wants to do a public burning of the Koran (or Quran).

It is too bad that this has blown up so much and is still getting so much attention.

Our job, our goal as Christians, is to make disciples and to share Christ.  Period.  When Jesus was arrested he explained to Pilate that His kingdom was not of this world and that was why His disciples didn't fight.  The Bible makes it clear that we don't fight against flesh and blood.  In all this, how does burning a book, whether it be a book that a group of people consider holy or not, advance the kingdom that is not of this world?

The command from Jesus was to make disciples.  I am afraid that this pastor, while busy proclaiming Jesus, has missed the central message of Jesus.  That message is not simply "God's love".  It is "God loved the world so much that Christ died for our sins so that anyone who puts their trust in Him (Christ) will not perish, but live forever with God."  That is the message of reconciliation.  God, through the death of Christ, has dealt with His anger toward us and will forgive us when we come to Him.

As Christ has forgiven us, we ought to forgive one another.  Jesus asked God to forgive those killing Him.  Perhaps this pastor should hold a public forgiveness service.  That I think would more fully show rejection of the radical Muslim jihadists.

Ok, so technically we have been home most of the week.  We returned Monday evening after a busy last day at the lake.  It was a good vacation.  This one was a little different.  Although I got the hammock set up, I only got about 45 minutes in it the whole time because we dedicated a lot of time to scraping and painting the front side of the cabin.  You can see pictures of our effort HERE.  It was hot work for much of the time and we would take afternoons off to rest and go swimming.  We got to go on a couple of nice boat rides and took the canoe out two evenings and one morning.

Over all it was a great time and I got my batteries really recharged.  It was nice to have a lot of time with the family.  I love just having tons of time to enjoy spending time with the kids and Sarah.  We had great family times and quiet evenings. (Camp has no TV or Internet).  I got two books read and part way through a third.  I will update my reading list on the blog at some point.

So, now it is back to work.   I am excited with small groups starting, youth group kicking off tonight, Sunday school kicking off this Sunday and many other activities soon to start.  It is going to be an exciting and challenging fall!